Margie and I recently toured Eastern Europe and finished the trip with a tour of the concentration camp at Terezin. During the 3-1/2 years of the camp's existence, thousands of inmates were killed or died of untreated diseases. What I found most memorable were the displays of artworks created by the inmates during their internment. Music, painting, drama, sculpture: all were of vital importance to the inmates. Despite inhuman conditions of crowding and frequent abuse and torture, prisoners focused on creating works of beauty. That many of these works are with us today attests to the success of their quest.
For me, it was a powerful reminder that, no matter how bad our situations become, we always can rise above them through creative expression and achievement. When we create–a painting, a book, a scientific theory, even a trading system–we rise above what is and realize a vision of what can be. Indeed, the more we face loss and setback, the more important it becomes to create and immerse ourselves in meaning and beauty.
The secret to overcoming adversity is to transform your life into a work of art: to become so focused on creating what is beautiful and meaningful that everything else becomes secondary. Our relationships can become masterpieces; our careers can become paths for pursuing a vision of what is possible. All of us become artists when we approach life creatively and find the beauty in each facet of life.
As I was leaving the courtyard of Terezin where prisoners were herded into barracks, I noticed a smooth, round, quartz-like stone on the ground. I took the stone home with me, and it now sits on my desk where I do my writing. It's an immediate reminder of the horrors that I saw–and also the soaring human spirit that transcended the evil.
Every life setback–including setbacks in markets–is an opportunity to rise above loss and create the future. We tap into our Divinity when we become Creators.
Further Reading:
The Role of Creative Insight in Trading Success
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